Adjustable closing device for a burial casket



Feb. 24, 1959 c. D. COLE 2,874,987

ADJUSTABLE CLOSING DEVICE FOR A BURIAL CASKET Filed April 5. 1955 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hal INVENTOR "Carrel D. Cole ATTORNEY j Feb. 24, 1959 c, OL 2,874,987

ADJUSTABLE CLOSING DEVICE FOR A BURIAL CASKET Filed April 5. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Carrel D. Cole ATTORNEY} ADJUSTABLE CLOSINGDEVICE FOR A BURIAL CASKET Carrel D. Cole, Houston, Tex., assignor of fifty percent to Carl E. 'Creasy and fifty percent to Elwood E. 'Creasy, both of Bluefield, Va.

Application April 5, 1955, Serial No. 499,370

4 Claims. (Cl. 292-247) complished easily and positively, and in a dignified manner.

With the usual devices now being used, that is, standard panel catches, screws, bolts, etc., it is frequently impossible for the funeral director, or assistant, to properly close a casket at the funeral service without pulling and tugging at the casket top thus causing embarrassing delays and commotion. This difficulty in closing a burial casket is usually due to the fact that the catches and hinges are fixed to the casket parts before any lining or upholstering is done. The casket may close perfectly at this stage of manufacture, but, after the lining and decorative upholstering is added, it is often found that the procedures used in lining the casket has sprung the hinges or panel, or the bulk of the upholstering itself may cause difficulty in closing. The standard panel catches do not perform any function of assisting in aligning the panel and the top segments to bring about proper closure.

One of the principal objects'of this invention is to provide devices, each comprising'two units, one of which is attached to the top closure panel and the other to the top mold, so constructed and arranged that, upon manipulation of the device, the top closure panel will, if out of proper alignment with themold, bedrawninto proper and sightly relationship with the mold, or if the casket lining and decorative upholstering is so bulky as to have sprung the hinges or render closing of the panel otherwise difi'icult, the manipulation of the device will enable the attendant to properly close the casket with ease, instead of the awkward procedure of pulling and tugging or exerting pressure upon the panel by bearing upon it. Another important object is to provide devices of the character described, parts of which can be temporarily mounted on the top panels of the caskets in the'approxijmate position desired for use, at the factory, or prior to placing of linings and upholstering, and then more securely fixed to the panels after the bed, body skirt, cushioning, smacking, etc., have been placed, and tests made to determine the best location of the parts of the devices 3 so as to' assure easy and sightly closing.

' Another object is to provide devices of the character described which are susceptible of embellishment or treat- "ment to render them decorative and to harmonize in dejsign with other decorations in or on the caskets.

A" further object isto provide adevice of this char- "t'icter, the'majoi' parts of which are carried by the casket ice top panels, and so constructed and arranged that they are out of sight to viewers, when the casket is open, that is, with the top panel raised to open upright position. The standard catches now in use are mounted in the cen ter of the top edge of the panel by drilling or cutting through and since the standard type catch extends down into the top mold it, by necessity is visible when the casket is open and the panel is raised to a perpendicular position. This tends to distract attention away from the beauty of the art work of the interior decoration and is most objectionable. Using a device according to the present invention, the panel, as viewed when open, remains an unbroken frame for the decorations built into Other objects and advantages will appear in the following detailed description of one embodiment. of the present invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view looking toward the front of a burial casket equipped with an adjustable closing device according to the present invention, the top panel being in an open position. i

Fig. 2 is a similar view, but with the top panel in a closed and latched or locked position.

Fig. 3 is a detail view in plan of the adjustable closing device, and showing the manner in which 'parts may be 'a typical adjustable hinge plate which forms a part of the device. r

' Fig. 8 is a detail'view of the working parts of a typical lock mechanism which may be incorporated as a part of the device, the view being on substantially the line 8-8 of Fig. 4. I

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view of a typical head of an element of the device, adapted to be secured to-the casket mold.

.In the drawings is shown ajtypical burial casketJ'10 comprising 'an elongated body portion or shell 11," including a top mold 112, and an elongated top closure panel 14- hingedly carried by the rear portion of the top mold in the usual or any approved manner. In Fig. 1, suitable upholstering 15, and decorative trim 16 thereabout are shown, carried by the inner side of the panel 14, and within the body portion 11, suitable upholstering 13 and pillow 17 are illustrated. The panel 14 may be held in an upwardly extending position for viewing the interior of the body portion 11 by any suitable device, suchas the cord 18 having its end portions secured to the body 11 and panel 14. t

The closing device comprises a dog 20, which may be rather inconspicuous in that it includes only a head 21 extending outwardly from the face 22-of the top mold at the front portion of the casket, to which it .is secured; a lever 24 with means 25 secured to the top front portion of the top closure panel 14, pivotally mounting the lever 24 to swing about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the panel 14; and a link 26 pivotally carried at one end portion by the lever 24 to swing about an axis parallellwith the pivotal axis of lever 24 andprovided at its other end portion with a downwardly and .rear- 'wardly opening pocket 27 for releasably engaging and I Patented Feb. 24, 1959 might otherwise require an attendant relation to the top panel I ,gages the dog as shown in Fig. 4, the over center position being clear from a consideration of the double ate-Q concealing the dog 20, when the lever 24 is in juxtaposed relationto the closed t0p'panel'14,'as shown in Figil'and is obvious from an inspection of Figs. 46.

More specifically it is preferred to provide a machine screw 28 'for use with sheet metal top molds'12, the shank 29 ,of'the screw having a Phillips"fiafhead'Zl, and a nut30 .on ithe sh'ank to constitute the dog 2t! as shown in Figs. 4'and 9;,to make'the lever 24 a hollow metal stamping or castingcomprising an enlarged or major body portion 31 and a reduced or minor portion 32 which provides shoulders '33 adjacent each side of portion 32 for a purpose to be subseguently setforth, the hollow lever having a cavity'34lopen to its underside; to'have the means '25 comprise a hinge plate 35 fabricated to provide a main bodyportion36 and spaced ears 37, each provided with a per'foration 38 as shown .in'Fig. 7, which, when the ears are bent'in right angular relation to plane of the body portion 36 as shown in Figs. 3-6, hold a pivot pin 40 passing'through perforations ll in the reduced or minor portion 32 of lever 24 and extending across the cavity 34 thereof; and, to mold or fabricate the 1ink26 so as tube of U-shape, with a bight portion 42 in Which the pocket 27 is formed, and arms dfthaving pivoted' connection with the. lever 24 as by a cross pivot pin '44 secured to the end portions of'the arms opposite to the big'ht portion 41 and extending through openingsS in lever24.

Thus, it will be notedthat the Phillips head 21 of screw 28 is very inconspicuous, when the casket is open, as shownin vFig. l and may be regarded by onlookers'more as an ornament than .a mechanical device. The hollow lever 24 may be pressed or molded to an ornamental jshape, so as to have more the appearance of anornamental medallion than a mechanical device and the metal 'p'late'35 may be' concealedin the cavity '34 of the lever, except when thelever is moved from its position in juxtaposed relation to the panel top; The U-shaped link 26 has morethe appearance of a loop shaped handle than a mechanicalcontrivance. -In orderthat thejhinge plate 35 and the lever24, with piv'o't pins 40 and 44, may serveas typical means ,for tensioning the link 26, when the panel 14 is in a closed position and the dog ,Ztlis engaged in and conceale'dby .the pocket 27 ,So. as tordraw an out-of-line top panelback into place and thus avoid thenecessity of an attendant grasping it or pulling or tugging as previously described, or to compress decorative material in the casket which to pressupon the top panelin order to close it, the following are preferred characteristics .of the device: The pivot pin l'dis'locatcd in an over center position :sotliatits'axisiis to one side of the axis of pivot pin 40 when .jthe lever 24 is in a normal position in juxtaposed l4 and the link 26 firmly en- .dot and dash line x,-x passing through the zone of contact of thelink 26 with the dog 20 and through the axis ofpivotpin-44, but below the-axis of pivot pin 5%. Also ::the downwardly andrearwardly opening pocket 27, as shown in Figs. 3,4 and 6 is preferablyof V-shape with the opposite walls 47 diverging outwardly from an apex .z nets, to'the inner side '49 ofthe bightportion 42;, and with the opposite walls l'f'incut as indicated at St; to

have anchoring relation with the'tapcred head 21. Thus, "if the "top panel 14 1s out of line with the top mold 12, itrnay be dr'awn'into line by manipulation of the clever j24'fand the *guidingflaction of either "wall el -whichever ,inay1initially engage the dog"2,tl-until the dog is located in the apex zone 48 of pocket '27.

" ;Since,,'1'in the example shown, the ears 37 extend "be- ,tweenlthe fleverpor'tiori, 32'3and the arms 43, .filler' pieces in the nature of washers may be interposed one at .acircular' opening 84} in the major each side of portion 32 and the adjacent arm 43, these "fil'lerpieces each being'substantially of the same thickness as the thickness of the adjacent ear 37 In order to render the device adjustable to meet vari ous conditions encountered after the casket shell has been upholstered, etc., the main body portion 36 of plate 35 is preferably provided with an elongated slot 53, the longitudinakaxis of whichtisinormalto theaxis of vthe pivot pin 40, the slot 53 .cooperatingxwith a head 54 of a screw 55, in the example shown having anut 56 on its shank asshowninrFig. 4, and the plate -36 may also be provided with a 'countersinkhole 57 for 'the reception of a head 58 of a screw 59, in the example shown, having a nut-6t; on its shank, placed and tightened in the relationship showninfig. 4 after adjustment of the plate and tightening of the screw 55, to bring about desired relationship between the casket top mold and panel, after trimming. s

It is preferred to also provide means tonormally bias the lever 24 in juxtaposed relation to the panel top. Thismeans may comprisea leaf spring62, having its one end portion secured, as by rivet 63, upon an end portion of plate 35 and extending over a notched. portion 64 open to the margin .of the plate between ears SZgtho free end of the spring engaging beneath an inwardly notched portion 65 of a skirt ofminor or reduced portion of 32.0f lever 24; i

The cavity 34 may also accommodate a lock mechanism 67 .thebolt 68 of which cooperates with a keeper 6d carried by plate 35. A typical lock mechanism shown in .Fig. 8, comprising a casing 70, which maybe riveted or otherwise secured to thellever 24, in which bolt 68 is reciprocated by the ward of a'key 71,1the-b6lt beingcso shaped as to cooperate with a 'detent portion of the lock .frame to hold the bolt in a locked orunlocked position, a'traveling leaf spring 73 beingcarried by the bolt and bearing against an abutment 74 in such manner as to ,yieldably'bias the bolt toward the detent portion '72.

' The keeper 67 maybe formed by cutting'the bo'dy portion 36 in U.-shape to provide a tongue 75 which may be upstruck and bent .in'L-shape to provide a fiange76 beneathwhich therbolt68engages when thelever 2'4is in normalpositiomand the bolti's thrown to'lockingposh tionby key 71; j

The lock mechanism 67 also includes a key ,barrel'77 revoluably carriedbythecasing 76 and extending through portion 31 ofllever .24,.vastshownlinlliigs. 3 and 4.

itis believed the operation of the adjustable closing devicesiforburialcaskets will be clear fromtheforegoirtg .descriptionfl am well aware that devices havebeen provided iorholding tlielids' of trunks, suit casesyitodl boxes and the like in closed position with respect 'tofth'e main body portions, by the .so-called overcentering or toggle action, but in these, no attempt has beenmade to render the mechanism such that, a very inconspicuous element remains in the normal line of vision when the receptacle is viewed from the front and the lid is'open nor to provide other desirable characteristics particularly well adapted for use on burial caskets. 'With respect to the present invention, it .will be noted from an inspection or Fig. 1 that, when the casket top panel is up, the lever 24 and link 26are out of sight to those viewing the casket from the front, and by an inspection of Fig, '5 itwill be noted that the link 26 is disposed in aver'y accessible position since the arms 43 thereof engage the shoulders 33 of the lever 24 which latter is held in juxtaposed relation to the panel top by the spring 62 'as shown in Fig. 4. If desired, the top panel maybel rnoved forward by the attendant grasping thelink'26 in oneiharrd, pulling itiorwardand easing the panel vto an. approximate .closedposition by use of the other hand easing it gently to such position, after the link can lhe swllrig proper relationship to the dog 20 and final and secure latching accomplished by use of lever 24.

If the device is equipped with a lock, that may be used to ceremoniously complete the memory picture created by the funeral service. As the casket is closed for the last time it may be locked and the key presented to the family of the deceased as a memento. The lock can also be used to insure loved ones complete privacy of the contents of the casket should it be shipped to another point or should it be necessary to leave the casket ket shell and securing the dog thereto, and a head at the end of said shank adapted to be spaced from the casket shell; a hinge plate; a lever pivotally carried by said hinge plate to normally lie in a first position in juxtaposed relation thereto, and to swing to a second position extending outwardly from said hinge plate, said hinge plate adapted to be secured to the casket panel at the top marginal portion thereof opposite that to which the panel is hinged and with the pivotal axis of the lever parallel to the hinged axis of the casket panel; and a link of U-shape, comprising a pair of arms with means pivotally supporting the same at adjacent end portions on said lever in an over center position when the latter is in said first position, and a bight portion joining the other ends of said arms, said bight portion being provided with a V-shaped pocket opening into said bight portion with the outermost edge of the lowermost Wall of said pocket spaced inwardly of the outermost edge of the uppermost wall thereof, forming a rearwardly and downwardly opening V-shaped pocket, the uppermost wall of said pocket overlying said dog when said lever is in said first position, concealing said head of the dog, and acting as a guide for said head of the dog as said lever is moved into said first position, the apex portion of said pocket engaging the said head of the dog and tensioning said link and the pivotal con nection of said link with said lever when the latter is in said first position.

2. An adjustable closing device as specified in claim 1 in which said head is tapered at its back toward said shank and the opposite walls of said V-shaped pocket are incut to have anchoring relation with said tapered head,

3. An adjustable closing device adapted to be mounted on the body shell and hinged top closure panel of a casket for pulling the panel in aligning relation to the shell, comprising a dog adapted to be secured to the casket shell at its portion opposite that to which the panel is hinged, said dog comprising a shank adapted to penetrate the casket shell and securing the dog thereto, and a head at the end of said shank adapted to be spaced from the casket shell; a link of U-shape comprising a pair of arms and a bight portion provided with a V-shaped pocket opening into said bight portion with the outermost edge of the lowermost wall of said pocket spaced inwardly of the outermost edge of the uppermost wall thereof, forming a rearwardly and downwardly opening V-shaped pocket, the uppermost wall of said pocket overlying said dog when said link is in engagement with said dog concealing said head of the dog, and acting as a guide for said head of the dog as said link is moved into dog engaging relationship with the apex portion of said pocket engaging the said head of the dog; and means adapted to be secured to the casket panel at the top marginal portion thereof opposite that to which the panel is hinged, operatively connected to said arms of the link, opposite said bight portion thereof, for tensioning said link between said means and the engaging apex portion of said pocket and said head of the dog.

4. An adjustable closing device as specified in claim 3 in which said head is tapered at its back toward said shank and the opposite walls of said V-shaped pocket are incut to have anchoring relation with said tapered head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,603,418 Scheider 'Oct. 19, 1926 1,652,676 Komenak Dec. 13, 1927 1,958,504 Zeller May 15, 1934 2,323,674 Purkiss July 6, 1943 2,585,363 Woltering Feb. 12, 1952 2,585,403 Paul Feb. 13, 1952 2,672,040 Komenak Mar. 16, 1954 2,690,921 Braun Oct. 5, 1954 2,694,592 Borchers et al Nov. 16, 1954 2,784,994 Hopkins Mar. 12, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 643,821 France May 22, 1928 702,851 France Apr. 18, 1931 741,677 Germany Nov. 15, 1943 841,930 France Feb. 20, 1939 

